During the famous "Siege of Vicksburg" Union Headquarters was stationed in the bottom floor of the home of Mary Hurlburt's family friends the Wm S. Lum family. Mary,though a northern girl from Danbury,had been living with the Lum's for several years as the governess/companion to their children (see 1860 census). The Lum family continued to live in the upper floor of their home and they sent sweet Mary down to Grant's officers to beg favors. The mostly married officers were seen by widowed Rawlins to be flirting with Mary and he spoke to General Grant against this. Grant calmly told him that he had every confidence that Rawlins could handle this situation. Rawlins made sure that all of Mary's requests were made directly to him from that day forward. Love blossomed amongst great trials. Rawlins arranged for Mary "Emma" as he called her, to be escorted back to her family in Danbury. He wrote her many letters over the next few months (Chicago Historical Society) declaring his feelings for her and begging her to become his wife and the mother of his orphaned children. He traveled to Danbury and married "Emma" in her family home on 24 Dec 1864.
After John Rawlins died of consumption 1869 (as Secretary of War in DC), Mary had joint custody with President Grant of John's children by his first marriage to Emily Smith. When she is re-married to a Charles F. Daniels (1844-1903) a musician in 29 Jan 1872 president Grant decided the children (Emily, Jennie and James) should be returned to live with their Maternal Grandparents in Goshen,NY. Mary died of Consumption in Cheyenne, Wyoming on a trip to "cure" her disease in 1874. She had traveled by train with her mother Sarah Peet Hurlburt. The three children Willie, Violet and Mary born to Mary and John all died young and are buried in the Wooster Cemetery.
There are additional resources at the Library of Congress as well as mentions of Mary in Julia Dent Grant's autobiography. The love story of Mary "Emma" and John was written and published in a fictional account called "Aide to Glory" by Louis Devon. Rawlins biography "Life of Rawlins" was written by fellow staff member J.H.Wilson. . I thank everyone for their interest. I see Mary everyday from her portrait on my wall and am daily reminded of her sweet, loving and all to short life.
After John Rawlins died of consumption 1869 (as Secretary of War in DC), Mary had joint custody with President Grant of John's children by his first marriage to Emily Smith. When she is re-married to a Charles F. Daniels (1844-1903) a musician in 29 Jan 1872 president Grant decided the children (Emily, Jennie and James) should be returned to live with their Maternal Grandparents in Goshen,NY. Mary died of Consumption in Cheyenne, Wyoming on a trip to "cure" her disease in 1874. She had traveled by train with her mother Sarah Peet Hurlburt. The three children Willie, Violet and Mary born to Mary and John all died young and are buried in the Wooster Cemetery.
There are additional resources at the Library of Congress as well as mentions of Mary in Julia Dent Grant's autobiography. The love story of Mary "Emma" and John was written and published in a fictional account called "Aide to Glory" by Louis Devon. Rawlins biography "Life of Rawlins" was written by fellow staff member J.H.Wilson. . I thank everyone for their interest. I see Mary everyday from her portrait on my wall and am daily reminded of her sweet, loving and all to short life.
During the famous "Siege of Vicksburg" Union Headquarters was stationed in the bottom floor of the home of Mary Hurlburt's family friends the Wm S. Lum family. Mary,though a northern girl from Danbury,had been living with the Lum's for several years as the governess/companion to their children (see 1860 census). The Lum family continued to live in the upper floor of their home and they sent sweet Mary down to Grant's officers to beg favors. The mostly married officers were seen by widowed Rawlins to be flirting with Mary and he spoke to General Grant against this. Grant calmly told him that he had every confidence that Rawlins could handle this situation. Rawlins made sure that all of Mary's requests were made directly to him from that day forward. Love blossomed amongst great trials. Rawlins arranged for Mary "Emma" as he called her, to be escorted back to her family in Danbury. He wrote her many letters over the next few months (Chicago Historical Society) declaring his feelings for her and begging her to become his wife and the mother of his orphaned children. He traveled to Danbury and married "Emma" in her family home on 24 Dec 1864.
After John Rawlins died of consumption 1869 (as Secretary of War in DC), Mary had joint custody with President Grant of John's children by his first marriage to Emily Smith. When she is re-married to a Charles F. Daniels (1844-1903) a musician in 29 Jan 1872 president Grant decided the children (Emily, Jennie and James) should be returned to live with their Maternal Grandparents in Goshen,NY. Mary died of Consumption in Cheyenne, Wyoming on a trip to "cure" her disease in 1874. She had traveled by train with her mother Sarah Peet Hurlburt. The three children Willie, Violet and Mary born to Mary and John all died young and are buried in the Wooster Cemetery.
There are additional resources at the Library of Congress as well as mentions of Mary in Julia Dent Grant's autobiography. The love story of Mary "Emma" and John was written and published in a fictional account called "Aide to Glory" by Louis Devon. Rawlins biography "Life of Rawlins" was written by fellow staff member J.H.Wilson. . I thank everyone for their interest. I see Mary everyday from her portrait on my wall and am daily reminded of her sweet, loving and all to short life.
After John Rawlins died of consumption 1869 (as Secretary of War in DC), Mary had joint custody with President Grant of John's children by his first marriage to Emily Smith. When she is re-married to a Charles F. Daniels (1844-1903) a musician in 29 Jan 1872 president Grant decided the children (Emily, Jennie and James) should be returned to live with their Maternal Grandparents in Goshen,NY. Mary died of Consumption in Cheyenne, Wyoming on a trip to "cure" her disease in 1874. She had traveled by train with her mother Sarah Peet Hurlburt. The three children Willie, Violet and Mary born to Mary and John all died young and are buried in the Wooster Cemetery.
There are additional resources at the Library of Congress as well as mentions of Mary in Julia Dent Grant's autobiography. The love story of Mary "Emma" and John was written and published in a fictional account called "Aide to Glory" by Louis Devon. Rawlins biography "Life of Rawlins" was written by fellow staff member J.H.Wilson. . I thank everyone for their interest. I see Mary everyday from her portrait on my wall and am daily reminded of her sweet, loving and all to short life.
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